help identifying no4 mk1

[ktm250f3]

i have an enfield that was a sporter and I'm restoring it to its military configuration.
the serial# prefix is PB. i can't find much on this and it docent have any marks on the left side of the receiver.

Information

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[303tom]

The same letter prefix(es) were used by Maltby, Fazakerley & BSA Shirley, A to Z then AA, AB to AZ, then BA to BZ, CA to CZ !..............

[Thunderbox]

The number is Fazakerley, but it looks like the butt socket is ground and restamped - so the number might be unoriginal.

To me the rifle has the look of an early BSA (which happens to be the mark on the safety; but that means nothing, as safeties are frequently replacements), but its hard to tell because of the later added paint and wear.

What is the number on the bolt? Is there a number on the wood near the end cap?

It appears to have Enfield inspection marks, which might be an indication again that it is an early rifle.

[ktm250f3]

it has a what looks like FTR on the side with a B under it. the wood was cut, so no numbers. the stock in the pic is the replacement. the number on he bolt is matching. so is there no real way to date it?

[Roger Payne]

I'm with Thunderbox. The crude way the butt socket is hand stamped with the serial number (starting with a '2' after the 'PB'), the machining of the receiver side wall & so on make it 'smell' like an early Faz. Later on they changed to engraving the markings on the flat under the rearsight. If you want to know if it's a Faz then take your forend off & look at the draws (the two bosses that project downwards from the receiver & onto which the sear & mag release catch are attached). On Faz receivers they are asymmetrically shaped, the one on the left (safety catch side of the rifle) being chunkier than the one on the right. AFAIK they are symmetrical on the bodies of rifles from all other manufacturers.

Hope this helps.

ATB.

[Peter Laidler]

With Roger plus the cheese-head of the screw catch magazine is recessed into the sear lug

[ktm250f3]

thanks guys for the help. another? should i remove the paint to see if there are markings under it? and another thing the barrel has not been cut but there are no lugs for the bayonet, was removing them part of the export process?

[Peter Laidler]

If you follow the instructions and info so far, there's nothing to be gained from stripping the paint off surely as you will quickly establish who made it. If you are going to restore the rifle to service spec, then stop right where you are! No bayonet lugs and it'll never be service spec! We did re-number rifles but only in set circumstances, such as to make the original number more legible or to cover......... Let's leave it at that! But you could find a UK Military No4 rifle with a bit of a hit and miss number re-stamped. Not that badly I agree but on a late Friday afternoon and ..... Best thing is to just get it bead blassted and phosphated and hard bake painted as per the UK MoD spec

[browningautorifle]

there are no lugs for the bayonet,

What caliber is it?

[Peter Laidler]

That's a good thought BAR......... Forgot about that!